Great friendships rarely just happen by accident.
Here are five tips to being a good friend and making great friendships.
What is important We all like to know that someone is listening and cares about what we have to say.
A good friend listens with undivided attention to all the other person has to say.
You may not follow the same interest activity yourself.
It is however, important that you know and acknowledge that the topic is important to your friend.
If he wants to show you all of his collection piece by piece.
Or if she wants to spend an hour explaining why she buys so many boots.
Make this quality time and allow yourself to enjoy the experience.
This is friendship gold.
Connecting Friends have a common interest.
This is a single thread of friendship that connects the two of you.
Good friends will have several strands.
Great friends have tested the strength of those bonds of friendship and found them to be strong and reliable.
If you are looking to make a new friend then try and find a common interest.
It can be as simple as seeing each other at the same club, class or activity, each week.
Consistency Being consistent in your actions and behaviours creates reliability.
This reliability leads to a sense of safety and a knowledge of what to expect when you are with your friend.
For many people the ever changing world we live in creates a stress.
Time spent with a consistent and reliable friend is a sanctuary.
This does not preclude you from evolving as friends rather it acts as a buffer to the process.
Vision There is a line in an Irish blessing that says "May the apple of your eye see only good.
" This quote sums up one of the characteristics that great friends share.
That is the ability to see only good about their friend.
Obversely, the ability to not see anything untoward.
Be prepared Prepare yourself for greatness.
The opportunity to raise the level of friendship is available to you.
As good friends you already share some interests in common.
To expand your relationship as friends it is necessary to sometimes step outside your comfort zone and experience new activities.
Whether the outcome of the activity is enjoyed by you both or not it is the shared experience that creates a strong bond.
The willingness to have a shared new life experience with your friend is greater than simple interests.
It is worth taking the time to consider the quality of your friendships.
If your relationships could do with an input of friendship gold, invest in them today.